Let's talk South Okanagan – Similkameen

This South Okanagan – Similkameen national park reserve public consultation process is Parks Canada’s opportunity to share the latest information on the proposed national park reserve boundaries, provide an overview on key aspects related to land management, consider the views shared by the public in past consultations and invite new questions.

This is your opportunity, as members of the local community, region, and as Canadians, to provide further feedback and have your say.

Between December 10, 2018 and February 28, 2019, Parks Canada invites Canadians to discuss the proposed national park reserve in the South Okanagan – Similkameen.

This South Okanagan – Similkameen national park reserve public consultation process is Parks Canada’s opportunity to share the latest information on the proposed national park reserve boundaries, provide an overview on key aspects related to land management, consider the views shared by the public in past consultations and invite new questions.

This is your opportunity, as members of the local community, region, and as Canadians, to provide further feedback and have your say.

Between December 10, 2018 and February 28, 2019, Parks Canada invites Canadians to discuss the proposed national park reserve in the South Okanagan – Similkameen.

This section provides an overview of key aspects related to land management
within the proposed national park reserve and addresses views and questions
that have been identified through past consultations.

Read the topics that interest you most or read them all.

Add your comments, participate in discussions or ask us a question.

This section provides an overview of key aspects related to land management
within the proposed national park reserve and addresses views and questions
that have been identified through past consultations.

Proposing
the establishment of a national park reserve versus a national park allows for
the recognition of title and rights held in the South Okanagan – Similkameen
region by the Syilx/Okanagan Nation. The South Okanagan – Similkameen Steering Committee
demonstrates the provincial and federal governments call for renewed, nation-to-nation
relationships with Indigenous peoples, based on recognition of rights, respect,
cooperation and partnership.

There have
been questions from local communities on how cooperative management within a
national park reserve would work. Indigenous relationships with the land will
continue as they always have... Continue reading

Proposing
the establishment of a national park reserve versus a national park allows for
the recognition of title and rights held in the South Okanagan – Similkameen
region by the Syilx/Okanagan Nation. The South Okanagan – Similkameen Steering Committee
demonstrates the provincial and federal governments call for renewed, nation-to-nation
relationships with Indigenous peoples, based on recognition of rights, respect,
cooperation and partnership.

There have
been questions from local communities on how cooperative management within a
national park reserve would work. Indigenous relationships with the land will
continue as they always have and locals and visitors will continue to access
the land. We only need to look to the large majority of national parks, and national
park reserves in Canada that are already cooperatively managed between Parks Canada and
local First Nations, where surrounding communities continue to access and use
the places they have always used. Cooperatively managed national parks and
national park reserves remain places for the community and all Canadians.

What can Parks Canada do to promote respectful and
cooperative relationships in the South Okanagan - Similkameen?

Working Boundary: This term is used to describe the
boundary of the proposed national park reserve, where private lands, along with
Crown lands are also present within the boundary area. The line on the map is what Parks Canada proposes to achieve at some
point in the future, however, it will take some years to realize.

Privately owned lands
will remain under the title of the private owner(s); a national park reserve
designation would not apply to
private lands. The regional district will remain as the administrator of by-laws
on privately owned lands. Private lands... Continue reading

Working Boundary: This term is used to describe the
boundary of the proposed national park reserve, where private lands, along with
Crown lands are also present within the boundary area. The line on the map is what Parks Canada proposes to achieve at some
point in the future, however, it will take some years to realize.

Privately owned lands
will remain under the title of the private owner(s); a national park reserve
designation would not apply to
private lands. The regional district will remain as the administrator of by-laws
on privately owned lands. Private lands may be considered as part of national
park reserve at some point in the future, but only on a willing-seller
willing-buyer basis. No lands will be expropriated as part of a national park
reserve establishment.

As directed by Parliament through the Canada National Parks Act, the Government of Canada cannot expropriate private
property in order to enlarge or establish a national park or national park
reserve. Private lands would only ever be purchased on a willing seller-willing
buyer basis, based upon independent property appraisals in conjunction and
agreement with private land owners and once the proposed national park reserve is
established. The federal government has no jurisdiction over property rights on
privately owned land adjacent to or within the boundaries of a national park or
national park reserve.

As directed by Parliament through the Canada National Parks Act, the Government of Canada cannot expropriate private
property in order to enlarge or establish a national park or national park
reserve. Private lands would only ever be purchased on a willing seller-willing
buyer basis, based upon independent property appraisals in conjunction and
agreement with private land owners and once the proposed national park reserve is
established. The federal government has no jurisdiction over property rights on
privately owned land adjacent to or within the boundaries of a national park or
national park reserve.

If your
property is in the middle of the proposed national park reserve, it will still
remain your property, under the by-laws and regulations of the regional
district, and where applicable provincial statutes. In order for you, guests,
family, friends or patrons to access your property, you will not need to
pay fees, toll road fees or the like.

Parks
Canada has no jurisdiction over how you manage your private land. Bordering a
national park reserve can have immense benefits and, as good neighbours, Parks
Canada welcomes the opportunity to work with private land... Continue reading

If your
property is in the middle of the proposed national park reserve, it will still
remain your property, under the by-laws and regulations of the regional
district, and where applicable provincial statutes. In order for you, guests,
family, friends or patrons to access your property, you will not need to
pay fees, toll road fees or the like.

Parks
Canada has no jurisdiction over how you manage your private land. Bordering a
national park reserve can have immense benefits and, as good neighbours, Parks
Canada welcomes the opportunity to work with private land owners towards common
objectives.

Knowing access and private property rights will
remain unchanged, what concerns are still on your mind?

Long-term
relationships with ranchers are critical to the future success of a national
park reserve in the South Okanagan – Similkameen. Although commercial
livestock grazing is not typically allowed in a national park reserve, Parks
Canada is committed to working with ranching families to provide certainty and
stability on their respective Crown grazing tenures. Ranching families within
the proposed national park reserve will be able to continue operating as they
are today with a similar regulatory framework. Parks Canada is in a position to
assist grazing tenure holders with capacity funding to work together to... Continue reading

Long-term
relationships with ranchers are critical to the future success of a national
park reserve in the South Okanagan – Similkameen. Although commercial
livestock grazing is not typically allowed in a national park reserve, Parks
Canada is committed to working with ranching families to provide certainty and
stability on their respective Crown grazing tenures. Ranching families within
the proposed national park reserve will be able to continue operating as they
are today with a similar regulatory framework. Parks Canada is in a position to
assist grazing tenure holders with capacity funding to work together to address
common stewardship objectives. A transition plan is currently under
development.

If you
are a rancher and/or a holder of a grazing tenure in the proposed national park
reserve boundary, the project manager will be in contact with you to discuss
next steps and go over questions in greater detail.

A small amount (14 percent) of the total lands within the
proposed national park reserve boundary are considered as part of the Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR). Approximately 80 percent of these ALR lands are under
private ownership. This means three (3) percent of the total hectares within
the proposed national park reserve are designated as ALR provincial Crown land.
These ALR lands will not be developed or lost from the landbase if transferred
to Parks Canada.

A small amount (14 percent) of the total lands within the
proposed national park reserve boundary are considered as part of the Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR). Approximately 80 percent of these ALR lands are under
private ownership. This means three (3) percent of the total hectares within
the proposed national park reserve are designated as ALR provincial Crown land.
These ALR lands will not be developed or lost from the landbase if transferred
to Parks Canada.

The shrub
steppe ecosystem found in the interior of British Columbia, including the South
Okanagan – Similkameen,
is recognized as one of the country’s most endangered natural systems. These
rare pockets of semi-arid desert are the only occurrence of this ecosystem in
Canada; they form the northern tip of North America’s Great Basin desert. By
establishing a national park reserve in the South Okanagan – Similkameen,
Parks Canada will protect and represent this rare and endangered ecosystem in
the national park ‎system, and protecting this area would support recovery of 30
federally-listed species at risk,... Continue reading

The shrub
steppe ecosystem found in the interior of British Columbia, including the South
Okanagan – Similkameen,
is recognized as one of the country’s most endangered natural systems. These
rare pockets of semi-arid desert are the only occurrence of this ecosystem in
Canada; they form the northern tip of North America’s Great Basin desert. By
establishing a national park reserve in the South Okanagan – Similkameen,
Parks Canada will protect and represent this rare and endangered ecosystem in
the national park ‎system, and protecting this area would support recovery of 30
federally-listed species at risk, and protect habitat for a substantial number
of other species.

What species and spaces within the proposed
national park reserve boundary are most meaningful to you?

Wildfire management
and the use of prescribed fire and fuel reduction will require a collaborative
approach. Syilx peoples have managed the landscape through controlled burns for
millennia. The role of the British Columbia Wildfire Service
is to mitigate impacts of wildfire on life and assets, Crown forests and
grasslands, and prioritize fuel management and wildfire suppression in
interface areas where communities and forests come together. Local and volunteer fire
departments have lifetimes of experience protecting homes and community. Parks
Canada is a leader, with more than 125 years of experience using fire management to prevent
catastrophic... Continue reading

Wildfire management
and the use of prescribed fire and fuel reduction will require a collaborative
approach. Syilx peoples have managed the landscape through controlled burns for
millennia. The role of the British Columbia Wildfire Service
is to mitigate impacts of wildfire on life and assets, Crown forests and
grasslands, and prioritize fuel management and wildfire suppression in
interface areas where communities and forests come together. Local and volunteer fire
departments have lifetimes of experience protecting homes and community. Parks
Canada is a leader, with more than 125 years of experience using fire management to prevent
catastrophic wildfire, naturally restore and maintain the ecology of national
parks and manage fire and fuel sources to protect important resources and
infrastructure.

Parks
Canada eagerly awaits the opportunity to learn from and cooperatively work with
the Syilx peoples, British Columbia Wildfire Service and local community fire departments and
municipalities to develop fire and vegetation management plans for the proposed
national park reserve to protect the places and spaces that we all love.

Visitation numbers to the national park reserve over the first 5 years following establishment are expected
to be less than 100,000 persons/year, with 56 percent of visitation attributed to
local residents and 44 percent to tourists. The majority of tourists will already be
in the region for other purposes, with modest growth between 2,000 to 4,000
extra visitors per year who are attracted by the proposed national park
reserve. Visitation is modest in the first five years as park infrastructure and
visitor services are in the planning and development phase. It is anticipated
that visitation will increase sustainably and... Continue reading

Visitation numbers to the national park reserve over the first 5 years following establishment are expected
to be less than 100,000 persons/year, with 56 percent of visitation attributed to
local residents and 44 percent to tourists. The majority of tourists will already be
in the region for other purposes, with modest growth between 2,000 to 4,000
extra visitors per year who are attracted by the proposed national park
reserve. Visitation is modest in the first five years as park infrastructure and
visitor services are in the planning and development phase. It is anticipated
that visitation will increase sustainably and strategically over time as the as
the proposed national park reserve becomes more established.

With
respect to law enforcement, an increase in staff and capacity will result in
more "incidents" that are tracked, but the bulk of these would be
offenses that can be addressed by Park Wardens. The number of Criminal Code
infractions referred to the local RCMP are not expected to be significant
(ranging from 1 to 4 infractions per year), based on information from national
parks or national park reserves with similar characteristics.

Videos

Click here to play video
The Language of Reconciliation: Elders’ Circle
A diverse group of elders gathered on traditional Musqueam territory to discuss reconciliation. To learn more about reconciliation visit http://reconciliationcanada.ca/

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Waskesiu: Reducing the risk of wildfire - Prince Albert National Park
Prescribed fire is used in Prince Albert National Park, SK, to reduce the risk of wildfire in the town site of Waskesiu. For more info: http://parkscanada.gc.ca/fire